Redeemer Temple

A Word from Billy Graham

The Scripture prophecies that prior to the return of Christ, there will be the following:

1. A great perplexity and anxiety.
2. Declining moral standards.
3. A spiritual falling away in the church.
4. Prevalence of worldwide violence.
5. An increase in knowledge
6. Anticipation of a world dictatorship
7. Interest in worldwide evangelism.
8. Talk of peace when there is no peace.
9. Revelation of the anti-Christ

For Biblical support of these, read 2 Tim. 3, Luke 21, Matt. 24, 1 Thess. 5:3, Dan. 12:4, 1 John 2:18, and Rev. 14. Actually, the most often mentioned event in the entire Bible is the Second Coming of Christ. It's referred to more that 300 times in the New Testament alone. But remember that the end of the age need not be an occasion for fear. God designed it as the consummation of all things when the followers of Christ would enter His kingdom of joy and peace. As we near the end, how important it is that we be sure of our personal salvation. Also, that our attitude of expectation keep us ever ready.
Does this sound current to you? It appeared in a newspaper in the early 1970's.

Simple Servant-hood:
Matthew 11:25-29 (NKJV) At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

There is no eternal reward for selfish ambition only temporal, and far too often it leads to the loss of eternal reward. Behind ambition is the desire to have my inheritance now--which for the believer often leads to the pigpen with no human way out. When we have exhausted all our energy and resources, hopefully we will come to our senses in repentance so He can show us the way out. The children of the Father's love always realize that things were better back home, and when repentance is genuine are willing to go home to a different role giving all the future and ambition to Him. A son finds his peace back in the Father's care in the simple role of humble servant-hood. This truth is also seen in the concepts of the wilderness school where we begin to learn the love and ways of God instead of works. ( Israel, Hosea!) When we are stripped of all hype, ambition and self-glory we begin to see His glory as did Isaiah and begin the process of transformation into selfless servant-hood. We then come into the relationship with Him that will enable us to leave all our visions of grandeur behind and find the peaceful rest and satisfaction in faithful and humble service that our Lord has promised us.

Humility:
"God puts a great price on humility of heart. It is good to be clothed with humility as with a garment. It is written, 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble' (James 4:6). That which brings the praying soul near to God is humility of heart. That which gives wings to prayer is lowliness of mind. Pride, self-esteem, and self-praise effectually shut the door of prayer. He who would come to God must approach the Lord with self hidden from his eyes. Humility is a rare Christian grace of great price in the courts of heaven, entering into and being an inseparable condition of effectual praying. It gives access to God when other qualities fail. Its full portrait is found only in the Lord Jesus. Our prayers must be set low before they can ever rise high."
-E. M. Bounds

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